Beginners Guide To Legions

With Chaos Space Marines there are several different types of army you can collect, all very different from each other. In fact with Chaos Space Marines you probably have the most diverse bunch of options open to you through all of the races - daemons, firepower, combat, hordes etc. you can have it all. So here is a quick rundown of each legion, and what they are like...NB: These are all detailed in the Chaos Space Marines Codex (Starting from page 3 (Books of Chaos; Undivided Legions: Alpha Legion page 40; Iron Warriors page 41; Night Lords page 42; Word Bearers page 43; Black Legion page 44)(Books of Chaos; Cult Legions: Book of Khorne page 47; Book of Nurgle page 51; Book of Slaneesh page 55; Book of Tzeentch page 59)

The Undivided Legions

Black Legion

The Black Legion is for you if you want to totally customise your army and truly have a bit of everything. With the Black Legion you can have warriors with different marks in the same army, and you can have all the different types of daemons. Basically everything in the codex is available to you, therefore this army can be themed in whichever way you would like it to be.Summary - If you are not sure of which Chaos army you like, and just want to try a bit of everything, a totally balanced force then the choose the Black Legion.

Alpha Legion

The Alpha Legion is the Legion of Infiltrators and Spies. Almost everything can take the Veteran Ability Infiltrate at a cheaper price, and you can also include hoards of Chaos Cultists enlisted to help you. Unlike some Undivided Legions, Alpha legion may take Daemons as well, so you have more choice there. Both firepower and close combat can be mixed and can start up to 12" away from your opponent! Alpha Legion armies are typically heavily infantry based, with little to no vehicles at all.Summary - Choose the Alpha legion if you want masses of infiltrating units, surprising your enemy sneakily before they have a chance to react.

Word Bearers

The Word Bearers are an Infantry army for you! With more troop choices than any other army you max out Daemons or Chaos Space Marines, again giving you the opportunity to customise your armies strengths how you wish. Word Bearer's HQ can also take the Demagogue ability to keep everything (this works especially well with Daemons) fearless.Summary - Word Bearers are for the ultimate Infantry or Daemon fan, and you can produce seemingly endless Chaos Space Marine or Daemon Squads.

Iron Warriors

The Iron Warriors are raw firepower, siege specialists by trade they have more heavy support open to them than any other army, and the limitations on Obliterators are gone! With new heavy support units available to them capable of laying down heavy ordinance fire this army packs one solid punch with the shot. You won't see Daemons here, but it is easy to make up some Close Combat Squads lead by a tricked out Warsmith (Iron Warrior's Chaos Lord) if you want to ensure your force stays balanced in all areas.Summary - If you want raw firepower, ordinance weapons in abundance and tough hard hitters like Obliterators this army is definitely for you. Long ranged and lethal.

Night Lords

The Night Lord's are unsurprisingly best at home on Dark Worlds, and you will find they are unparalleled at moving through cover with their special, cover save boosting abilities as standard. Night Lord armies are often very fast, and sacrifice heavy support and elite slots for more fast attack, including as many raptor squads as points can buy! Furthermore, as well as the unique option of taking the stealth adapt veteran skill, the night lord's are all fitted with acute senses to really make this army the king of night fighting.Summary - If you want to have a mobile and fast force, capable of hiding in the shadows then striking before your enemies can react Night Lord's are for you.

The Legions of the Gods

World Eaters (Khorne)

Blood for the Blood God, a World Eaters army is made and bloodthirsty. Whether you choose to go daemon based or Khorne Bezerker based (their unique troop type) the sole tactics of this army is charge hack/slash/gorge! They have arguably the best Greater Daemon available to them in the winged Bloodthirster, and Bloodletters are arguably better than terminators for far less points! The Khorne Bezerkers and in fact anything marked by Khorne has more attacks, and can go into Blood Frenzy at any given moment, wildly loosing control of themselves and going mad in the quest for Blood, hence making them ever more deadly in combat. Finally the sacred number of 8 is great for squads of both deamons and bezerkers alike.Conclusion - If you like raw madness and combat then choose the World Eaters, strategy can often be simple, but results and enjoyment off the scale!

Death Guard (Nurgle)

The mark of Nurgle grants bearers extra toughness, therefore it isn't a surprise to see the forces of the Lord of disease and pestilence made up of large amounts of infantry. Without the ability to take heavy weapons though it is frequent to see infiltrating squads with Melta and Plasma Guns, backed up with Vehicles as well. Plague Marines are incredibly hard to boot at toughness 5, and come in squads not too large or too small with a sacred number of 7. Furthermore the daemons of Nurgle - Plaguebearers are equally tough to boot as they also have toughness 5, and are dripping with venoms that can wound even the toughest of creatures. Finally, the warriors of Nurgle are trained how to hold Bolters in one hand, and can gain the extra attack for two combat weapons. Meaning with a Death Guard army, there is the capability to soak up masses of fire-power or combat, then deal it out themselves at close range and on the counter attack.Conclusion - Choose the Legions of Nurgle if you want a up-close-and-personal rock solid force of fighters.

Emperor's Children (Slaanesh)

The followers of Slaanesh are granted with fearsome sonic weaponry, equally effective on the move and the assault. Furthermore, Noise Marines are granted with (effectively) extra initiative, therefore squads are usually well-balanced in shooting and assault! However this will also mean small expensive squads, especially seeing as the sacred number of Slaanesh is 6. However this does mean we can take larger 12 man squads, and more importantly the option of Initiative 5 terminators remains not too expensive! The daemons of Slaanesh are perhaps a little fragile, but deadly on the charge in assault with multiple rending attacks coming in at you from all sides. Finally, Slaaneshi sorceror's can be very effective too, the prize psychic power preventing anyone from shooting or assaulting the caster! Making for some deadly lords and highly effective "daemon-bombs".Conclusion - The Emperor's Children are for you if you would like a small force of highly elite, upgraded and well rounded warriors.

Thousand Sons (Tzeentch)

Tzeenchian armies contain many sorcerer's with powerful spells, most not requiring psychic tests at all to make! The Mark of Tzeench grants Rubric Marines an extra wound, however they do then move a lot slower than normal. With all their psychic energy and extra wounds in large 9 man squads, Thousand Son's are a very hard army to boot indeed, and pack a serious punch through psychic firepower. The daemons available to them are also very impressive in the shooting, flamers and screamers capable of laying down massed fire on the move.Conclusion - Another army small on numbers, but a hard to boot force, yours definitely if you are a fan of psykers and ancient Egypt!